Last updated
Average Rent in Madison, WI & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 14 apartment communities in Madison, WI. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,361/mo
▲ +10.4% from last month
Lowest Available
$700/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
14
tracked daily
Units Listed
95
available now
Price Cuts This Week in Madison, WI
15 listed units across 3 buildings offering 2 bed units in Madison, WI dropped their asking rent in the past 7 days, an average cut of $498/mo. These are the largest cuts, tracked unit by unit with daily price checks.
| Apartment | Unit | Last Week | Now | Cut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 North Apartments | Unit 3 | $2,695 | $1,350 | $1,345 |
| 43 North Apartments | Unit 4 | $2,695 | $1,425 | $1,270 |
| Butler Plaza LLC | Unit 4 | $2,395 | $1,550 | $845 |
| Butler Plaza LLC | Unit 14 | $2,350 | $1,550 | $800 |
| 43 North Apartments | Unit 1 | $1,995 | $1,295 | $700 |
| Butler Plaza LLC | Unit 7 | $2,250 | $1,595 | $655 |
| 43 North Apartments | Unit 2 | $1,995 | $1,395 | $600 |
| 43 North Apartments | Unit 8 | $1,395 | $1,150 | $245 |
Rent by Neighborhood in Madison, WI
Compare average rent across Madison, WI neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends.
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | 30d Change | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenney-Lapham | $2,214 | ▲ $40 | $700 | 16 | 388 |
| Greenbush | $1,925 | ▼ $27 | $1,095 | 2 | 57 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Madison, WI?
As of September 2026, the average rent in Madison, WI is $2,361 per month across 14 apartment communities and 95 available units. Rents have increased $217 (10.4%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is 43 North Apartments starting at $700/mo. By unit type, a 2-bedroom averages $2,361/mo.
Prices range from $700 to $4,000 per month. The most common price point is the $2,400 range, where 25 units are currently listed.
Madison, WI Rent Price History
View as table
| Month | Avg Rent | Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | $2,432 | - | 5 |
| May 2026 | $2,383 | -$49 | 5 |
| June 2026 | $2,445 | +$62 | 8 |
| July 2026 | $2,128 | -$317 | 13 |
| August 2026 | $2,129 | +$1 | 14 |
| September 2026 | $2,312 | +$183 | 9 |
The trend line and monthly averages track each building's average listed price, recorded daily with outliers trimmed. The current month is a month-to-date figure, so it can sit above or below today's live market average shown at the top of this page.
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Madison, WI
Rent Prices by Apartment in Madison, WI
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 North Apartments | $700/mo | $1,604/mo | 13 | 4.7 |
| Lofgren Properties | $1,295/mo | $1,547/mo | 9 | 4 |
| Lark at Kohl | $1,469/mo | $1,469/mo | 1 | 3.5 |
| Butler Plaza LLC | $1,525/mo | $2,309/mo | 9 | 4.2 |
| Hub On Campus Madison | $1,670/mo | $1,773/mo | 5 | 4 |
| Capitol Centre Court Apartments | $1,795/mo | $1,873/mo | 4 | 4.2 |
| SEVEN27 at The Yards | $2,290/mo | $2,925/mo | 10 | 4.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Madison, WI
What is the average rent in Madison, WI?
Is rent going up or down in Madison, WI?
What is the cheapest apartment in Madison, WI?
How many apartments are available in Madison, WI?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Madison, WI?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$94,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $2,361/mo.
Comfortable income
$113,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($700/mo), you need to earn at least $28,000/year.
Median household income in Madison, WI is $76,983 , about 32% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Madison, WI
Overall prices in Madison, WI runs below the national average by about 4% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 95.9, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Madison, WI's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,361 |
| Utilities | $413 |
| Groceries | $507 |
| Transportation | $983 |
| Healthcare | $480 |
| Other goods and services | $768 |
| Estimated total | $5,511/mo |
Population
275,568
Median household income
$76,983
Census median rent
$1,364/mo
Rent as % of income
29.5%
Median age
31.8
Mean commute
19 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Google Search Trends for Madison, WI Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore Madison, WI Apartments
Browse all 14 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.